Sports Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, December 22, 2011
BKW dismantles Sharon Springs with lopsided win at home in new gym
BERNE –– Labeling the Bulldogs’ victory over Sharon Springs on Tuesday a “win” would be a serious understatement. Words like dismantle, annihilate, and obliterate better fit the context.
During its home opener in the school’s brand-new gymnasium, the girls from Berne-Knox-Westerlo displayed a ruthless full-court press defense that rendered Sharon Springs hopeless. The Bulldogs were up, 42 to 7, at halftime and won by the lopsided final score of 71 to 15.
Seven BKW players scored at least six points and the team remains undefeated at 5-0. With such a tireless defense and with such stellar ball distribution on offense, the Bulldogs will be a tough team to beat this season.
“We played as a team and everyone hit shots,” said senior Jean Farnam. “We don’t give up.”
What about that press?
“We do it a lot –– four up and one back,” Farnam said. “It’s just really good. It’s hard to get past.”
The Spartans had serious issues with the press. BKW stole the ball numerous times and Sharon Springs could barely make it past half court. The Bulldogs’ defense was brutal, and very effective, which led to many fast breaks the other way.
Head Coach Tom Galvin said after the game that he hasn’t seen BKW play that well since 2004, when the team went to States. He said that the team hasn’t practiced the press all that much, but his girls just know the concepts.
“We dominated with the defense,” Galvin said. “It was amazing to watch. These girls are well trained, so I don’t have to teach them much. They’re a dream to coach.”
BKW eased off the press in the second half, but the team kept moving, passing, and scoring. Anna Lease and Mary Salo scored 12 points each, and Liz Harvey scored 11. Sarah Abott scored eight points and Makayla McCormick and Christina North both had seven.
“We should do that to every team,” Lease said about the lopsided victory, but with a laugh. “It feels pretty good.”
The score could have been uglier, but Sharon Springs’ Head Coach Tom Yorke didn’t feel disrespected. “We don’t feel bad,” he said. “I just hope we learn from this.”
Harvey is again leading Section II in scoring for the Bulldogs with 23 points per game, but Tuesday was evidence that BKW can win without her leading the team in points on any given night.
“We’re pretty strong from one to nine,” said Galvin. “We’re on the right track.”
— By Jordan J. Michael